Q. Which one of the following statements best describes the process of delamination, related to plate tectonics?

[A] The process where the upper continental crust subducts under an oceanic crust.

[B] The detachment and sinking of the dense lowermost lithosphere (including the mantle lithosphere and lower crust) from the tectonic plate, allowing the underlying asthenosphere to rise and replace it.

[C] The subduction of oceanic lithosphere beneath a continental plate leading to volcanic arc formation.

[D] The lateral sliding of tectonic plates past each other along transform faults causing earthquakes.

Answer: B
Notes:

Explanation: Delamination is a geodynamic process in plate tectonics where the dense, lower part of the lithosphere—comprising the mantle lithosphere and sometimes the lower crust—detaches or peels away from the overlying crust and sinks into the less dense, ductile asthenosphere beneath. This removal of the dense root causes the hotter, more buoyant asthenosphere to rise and replace the sinking material.

Source: ET

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